The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-23
diversity Of Opinion Among Democrats
las to Its Real Measure of Reform.
6ome, DESTROYS Of Joint Convention, Want
the Present System of Electing the State
Boards to Remain Undsturbed.
The Discussion Continues Throughout
the Day Without Definite Action.
Report on the Condition Of the Michigan City
Penitentiary as Set-Of TO the Rot
tenness in the Southern Prison.

The Senate was engaged Yesterday in consid
ering the simple question Of further postponing !
the Barrett bill. providing for reorganization
of the governing boards of the penal and benevo-
lent institutions AS heretofore described, it de-
stroys existing boards and ntrusts their duties |
to two Of three members each, their appointment |
being given 10 the Governor. The motion to de- |
fer the bill until Thursday and make it the
special order for that day elected the fact that
Democrats are not in unison regarding the plans
of reorganization. Some want the General AS
sembly to retain the power of appointing direct
ors and trustees of the State boards, others ia
vor the Barrett bill, but would like to have a
non partisan clause IN it. and others still claim
tbs. the Democrats have majority in the State,
and therefore ought to control the institutions.
This latter class is to be found with those who
ask immediate consideration of the measure, but
from it decided opposition to non
partisan clause will come, while it
IL possible the other friends of
the bill to save it may consent to the trustees
and directors being equally divided between the
two great parties. 1t is noticeable. too, that
portion of the Democratic Senators, and not
inconsiderable one, are unwilling to regard the
condition of the southern prison as anything
more than resultant from gross negligence 1t
is thus sought to tone down the worse charac-
ter of the management and apply for favor on
the ground that the Democrats will not bear
with negligent or careless officers. even, and
therefore immediate action should be had on the
Sill to reform the management of the insttu-
lions But some resist this because. as they say if
certain officials are guilty under the present sys
tenn all should not be condemned. And out of
this proceed the radical opponents to the
measures, who want the General Assembly to
still elect the trustees. They may be considered
as the Democrats who are willing to 60 into
Joint convention. and per contra the rest will do
all they can to defeat such session by hasten
Ing through plans to reorganize institutions that
have suffered under Democratic partisan rule.
In the argument proceeding from this mingling
OF views and purposes. Senator Campbell favored
the bill as far as it went, but he wanted the in
stitutions removed from partisan influences.
Senator Tharp radically opposed extreme haste,
for -tie appojntuent of these directors and
) 1yfhstees is returned to the Governor, 1T may
occur that dishonest officials hereafter, RAY
cause an early change by restoring the appoint
ing power to the General Assembly. Because
Jack Howard had debauched the institution of
which he bad control that was no reason for
the Senate to proceed, without due delibera
tion in making change by removing at once
the innocent with the guilty. He was willing to
let the southern prison remain under the present
management of the deputy warden until time
could DO had in considering this proposed
reform. Senator johnson, who had opposed an
early consideration Of the measure, said he
wanted the bill considered at once. so
1t could be amended and passed. AS this
had direct reference to the introduction of a
partisan amendment, Senator Mcclure took
very much the same view as that of Senator
Tharp. He thought Deputy Warden Baxter
could manage the southern prison until they
had fully considered the idea, purposes and eff
fec,s of the Barrett bill. Senator Smith, of
Wells, opposed to the bill and saw no rea-
son why the Democrats should try to shirk a
Joint convention to elect trustees and directors
Senator Sellers urged immediate consideration,
because of the little time that is left for legisia-
ton. Lay not the fattering JUNCTION to your
soul, he said that there will be an extra ses-
sion. There will not be- and more it has al
ways been the Democratic party to turn the
rascals out, whether they are Democrats or Re-
publicans. Therefore delay should be en-
couraged in this matter"
"Does the gentleman inquired Senator
Bailey, refer to the trustees of the benevolent
institutions as rascals2"
4 mo, sir replied Senator Sellers, "but to
those who have been tolerably clearly proven to
be such" Senator Bailey also wanted to know
il he spoke officially regarding the extra session.
This Senator Sellers disclaimeG, as he was no,
thu one to control that matter.
Senator Urmston, in an effort to have the bill
indefinitely postponed, began his remarks with
decided political flavor in behalf of the Demo
cratic party Senators Campbell and johnson
referred to this as going beyond the question tC
postpone the bill until Thursday. If that line OF
argument was permitted at this time they asked
the same full privilege for the Republic
nrls ia Crat Senator
Smith from Jennings. "The Chair has giver
full allowance in political discussion" Senator
johnson referred to the participation the Sena
tor in the chair had in debate the other day
and was inclined to question the statement. This
led TO the usual interchange of compliments be
tween the two Senators when anything occurs
TO excite their admiration for each other. Sena
tor Weir questioned the propriety of the Chair
engaging In conversation with Senator on tn,
floor, and to this the Chair replied that he had
right to speak to a point of order "And be
sides" he continued, eff political discussion is
wanted, tho Chair is willing to take the floor ant
give 1t all the impetus he can" Senator Urmstor
being thus interrupted. resumed by favorinl
most decidedly a postponement of the bill. fol
he thought it ought not TO apply to the northern
State prison, where no mismanagement or cor
rupton has been found. Senator Weir hoped
the motion to postpone the bill would not pre-
vail for he favored immediate action, and
more, he would support a non partisan clause IN
the BILL land whenever l cast my vote" hi
said, tit will be for that purpose" He alst
favored giving the trustees and directors suffi
cent salaries to enable them to perform theil
duties. 1t was the paltry payment made to tn
directors at the southern prison that wa
partly responsible for their becoming tn
mere fgure-heads of Jack Howard. Had they
been sufficiently paid there would have been M
careless direction and reports that praised every
body and everything about the institution. Sen
ator Cox was opposed TO non-partisan boards
He wanted the Democrats, they had the ma
jori.y to control all the institutions 1t tn
Republicans only who asked for a share whel
they themselves had nothing to divide.
Senator Huston remarked that it had bee
said the institution at Jeffersonville is in tb
hands of the deputy warden and, therefore